Summary:
The three elementary-level schools in zip code 32095 (St. Augustine, FL)—Pine Island Academy, Lakeside Academy, and Palencia Elementary School—serve a combined enrollment of about 4,031 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, all part of the highly-rated St. Johns County School District (5-star rating, 94th percentile statewide).
Palencia Elementary School stands out as the top performer, ranking 157th out of 2,240 schools (93rd percentile) with a 5-star rating for 2025-2026. It leads the area in math proficiency, with 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders scoring 89%, 91%, and 82% respectively—well above district and state averages. Palencia also boasts the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (9.7%) and the highest spending per student ($10,084), along with the smallest student-teacher ratio (14.9). In contrast, Pine Island Academy excels in its middle school program, achieving 100% proficiency in Geometry and 94% in Algebra 1, while having the lowest economic disadvantage rate (7% free/reduced lunch). Lakeside Academy shows a split profile: its elementary scores lag behind (70.7% ELA, 66.7% math), but its middle school achieves perfect scores in Algebra 1 and Geometry, plus 96% in Civics.
Key takeaways include a clear link between higher spending and better outcomes—Palencia’s investment yields top results—while Pine Island’s strong performance despite lower spending ($8,110 per student) suggests affluence plays a role. Palencia’s dramatic improvement, with math scores jumping from 64% to 91% in 4th grade year-over-year, indicates effective curriculum changes. Lakeside’s dual nature—weak elementary but stellar middle school—highlights potential for growth. Overall, these schools offer strong options, with Palencia leading for elementary grades and Pine Island for advanced middle school math.
Thank you for your feedback!